Jul 15, 2010

This live presentation by Dr. Rudy Tanzi will be conducted over the Internet. You can participant through your own computer and headset or phone. This webinar is open to readers of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. Your participation is wanted and welcomed. You can ask a question or simply listen....

By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading Room

This is a reminder about the live webinar that is being held on Thursday, July 22, 2010, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT. In order to participate you must register in advance to your receive your entry code.

I recommend that you register and attend this session if your schedule permits.

Most Alzheimer's caregivers and their families are concerned about genetics and genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease. This webinar gives you the opportunity to not only hear, but to interact with one of the most important scientist in this area of research -- Dr Rudolph Tanzi.

Dr. Tanzi has identified several Alzheimer's disease genes, including the first Alzheimer's gene, the beta-amyloid protein precursor. His work in the Alzheimer's Genome Project, a Cure Alzheimer's Fund supported project, was recognized by TIME magazine as one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2008.

Dr. Tanzi is at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and will be discussing his recent work on how genes and how this research could lead to the cure for Alzheimer's disease.

He’ll give a little background on Alzheimer’s disease, describe the Alzheimer’s Genome Project and the discoveries that have come out of it and how they could to lead to a cure for Alzheimer's.

This live presentation by Dr. Rudy Tanzi will be conducted over the Internet. Each guest will participate through their own computer and headset or phone.

From Dr. Tanzi's profile on Neuroscience @ Harvard

My research is primarily aimed at identifying and characterizing Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-associated gene mutations/variants with the ultimate goal of defining the molecular, cellular, and biochemical events leading to neuronal cell death in the brains of AD patients.

A significant portion of AD is caused by the inheritance of defective genes, while specific gene variants can increase lifetime risk for the disease.

To date, four different genes have been implicated to play a role in familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). My lab has been involved with the discovery of three of these genes, including (the amyloid protein precursor [APP], presenilin 1 [PSEN1], and presenilin 2 [PSEN2]) that harbor defects causing "early-onset" forms of the disease with virtually 100% certainty usually under 60 years old.

Our studies are targeted toward determining the pathogenic mechanisms by which defects or variants carried by these genes contribute to the neurodegenerative process in the brains of patients with AD.

For this purpose, we are employing cell-based and animal models including Drosophila. An in-depth understanding of the normal function of the AD genes and how mutations and variants of these genes can lead to amyloid deposition, neuronal cell death, and dementia will be invaluable for the development of novel treatments for AD.

Along these lines, our current focus is to translate knowledge gained regarding genetic mechanisms of neuropathogenesis of AD into drug discovery. We are also searching for genes that cause autism and related disorders.

Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,640 articles with more than 11,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

The Alzheimer's Reading Room does not provide medical advice. The contents are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The views of the individuals that write on this website, contribute articles, or are quoted on this site are not necessarily those of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.Unauthorized use and/or duplication of all materials and articles in the Alzheimer's Reading Room without the express and written permission from Bob DeMarco are strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given and appropriate and specific direction to the original content is included.